The name, Sweet Water Arch, derives from the Irish for the area

Because of the really heavy rain, which lasted all day, I had to abandon my visit to the Stranmillis area of Belfast shortly after photographing this metal sculpture.

The name, Sweet Water Arch, derives from the Irish for the area ‘An Srúthan Milís’ or ‘sweet stream’.

The Sweet Water Arch is located in the car park adjacent to the Lyric Theatre, opposite the Governor’s Bridge and across the road from Stranmillis College.

The sculpture links the communities on both sides of the river, symbolises the theatrical connection with the Lyric and the flow of the river. It also includes details from the frontage of the College which was designed by Charles Lanyon. It is suggested that the chair is a symbol of the seat of learning at the college. I also noticed a pair of oars, is there a rowing club nearby?

Denis O’Connor hails from Cork and with his partner Bernie Rutter they together form ‘Sculpture Works’ based in Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Children from three local schools worked with the artists to help design the piece.